Biology

Physiology

Ampharos are tall yellow Pokémon that stand on their hind legs and have long necks. They have black stripes on their neck, ears and tail. They also have two round crystal-like structures; one on their heads and one on their tails. These give off huge amounts of light and electricity. Its arms resemble flippers. Ampharos also has a single nail on its foot.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Ampharos gives off so much light that it can be seen even from space. People in the old days used the light of this Pokémon to send signals back and forth with others far away.
The tail's tip shines brightest. It acts as a beacon for lost people.

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Trivia

Ampharos is one of only two second stage Lightning Pokémon in the TCG that was released in the same generation as its evolutionary relatives, the other being Luxray.

Unlike most Electric-types, Ampharos has Speed as its lowest stat. It shares this trait with Luxray and Magnezone.

Ampharos shares the same species name with Lanturn. They are both known as Light Pokémon.

The ball on the end of Ampharos's tail became a deeper red through the generations. It wasn't originally red due to the Game Boy Color's limitations.

The stripes on Ampharos's ears did not originally cover the tip of the ear. This was corrected in Pokémon Crystal.

Despite all of its Pokédex entries mentioning that its tail glows as a beacon, it cannot learn the move Tail Glow.

Origin

It appears to resemble a sheep, only without the wool. Ampharos also draws some details from dragons, being most similar to the Disney movie, Pete's Dragon, and even giraffes. The appearance and in-game role of this Pokémon show a connection to citadels and the ocean. Its pre-evolutions can only be caught in grassy areas near water and may possibly be a personification of a lighthouse with an ovine base.

Name origin

An ampere, or amp, is a measure of electrical current. Pharos is the Greek word for "lighthouse". Ampharos's Japanese name can be taken to mean 電流 denryū, electric current, or 電竜 denryū, electric dragon, and may include 電球 denkyū, light bulb in its name, referring to its tail.